  From 40th to 80th between Greenlake and I-5 Freeway is one of the most desirable locations in the Seattle area. This area is full of homes with a high walkscore, near Greenlake which is a fantastic place to walk, bike, take your dog. And just around the corner you can find the Mighty O Donut shop, with organic whole grain, mighty delicious donuts full of vitamin "D" (for donut). Flavors like Peanut Butter and Jelly, French Toast, and don't forget the mini donuts and the donut holes! Our friends The Hayburners  turned us on to them. Thanks Dave and Jennifer! (They are some of our good musical friends--as in good music AND good friends!) Also take a look in the Meridian Market--it's a nice neighborhood market with some upscale selections along with basics for quick pick up. Homes in this area range from $324,900 to $1,100,000. Many are new construction, and there are also turn of the century Craftsmans, townhomes, mid century homes as well as modern built green homes. Currently there are 51 residential listings and 5 condo listings from $225,000 to $435,000. Ask us for a current list, no problem!  Lynette Hensley Associate Broker Labels: Golden Gardens restaurants, Green Lake, North Seattle, Shopping, Tangletown
 Glassybaby in Madrona -- Larry and I had fun talking to the folks in the shop at Glassybaby -- Erin showed us around and told us about their product. They make glasses. Simple! These beautiful little jewel glass nuggets have been featured in Martha Stewart, and more than 50 other publications.  The story is that the owner, Lee Rhodes, after fighting a rare form of cancer, decided to learn how to blow glass, and glassybaby was born. There's much more to the story on their website--just click the link above. Used as votives or drinking glasses, these handblown cups are made in many wonderful colors, and with a small votive candle placed in the bottom, the warm glow is for your calm and serenity-making at home. Or the slightly bigger version is for drinking from. The Madrona location is where the glass is blown,  and you can watch glassblowers handcraft them right there in the showroom.  Store
Mon-Sat, 10-6 Sun, 10-3 3406 East Union Street Seattle, WA 98122 ph: 206-568-7368 fax: 206-985-4500  Lynette Hensley, Associate Broker Labels: Central District, Madison Park, Madison Valley, Madrona, Shopping
 OK, this isn't the meatiest blog post you will ever read.... but I like clouds and there were some wonderful ones over Sam's Club in North Seattle  last week. Shared here with you! Sam's Club at 125th and Aurora, is similar to Costco, a warehouse/bulk buying setup with a membership based clientele. We belong to it primarily because they offer $4 prescriptions. We get roasted chickens there, cat food, and  even though it's just the two of us at home, we do buy some things including business supplies in bulk. SAM'S CLUBBUT you can't buy clouds individually OR in bulk, they come free with this blog post or in person only! Smilin' atcha--  Lynette Hensley Associate Broker Labels: North Seattle, Shopping, Shoreline
 Sometimes you want a break from the high energy shopping taking place nonstop at Bellevue Square, and that's the day you head for Old Main, only just a block away but taking you away from the rush into the eternal. This is shopping as it used to be, and as it always should be, both dreamy and sparkley, timeless and very now. This was a low key day weather wise, but the streets felt dressed up and holiday excitement was in the air as I browsed my way down Main Street in the Bellevue downtown, known for it's  ambiance and flair. Old Main is a two block prominade between Bellevue Way and 100th Avenue NE. There are quaint, delightful shops and upscale eateries, as well as day spas, a yoga studio, and even creative energy bodywork (Health Wise), in fact more than 40 business's signs bedeck the streets. (Anyone who knows where the apostrophe goes in that, don't hold back, by all means let me know at your first opportunity!)  Ladies, you will want to stop in Posh on Main for shoes, especially if you like fluffy pink trees and yummy accessories. The rich perfume scented air will transport you to a distinct fashion flash and that is, as you know, often better than a 10 day vacation, especially at this time of year when no one can leave anyway, as we're all too busy wrapping packages. But wait, what about Christi's on Main, La Ree Boutique where you find.beautiful.style, or Title 9 where Sporty is so seductive you'll fill your entire closet with chocolate-and-leaf-green or misty-blue outerwear with an edge and the ultimate running-around running shoes, mandatory to go with your SUV, and equally at home with your lime green superbeetle. And don't forget Ottica, eyewear was never this delicious, and I love their little snowmen gazing wistfully through the glass onto the wet streets (but wait, I'm told we'll have snow tomorrow...). And speaking of delicious, there's restaurants you won't want to miss. Like Bis on Main, Salute of Bellevue Restaurante, 520 Bar and Grill, and the popular La Cocina del Puerco (try the carnitas) with the amazing colorfulful flags, streamers, signs, and fun stuff hanging in the ceiling space...how to chose? I guess it's what you're in the mood for. Or for coffee and desert it could be Belle Pastry with a scrumptious selection in a bakery case, or it could be Amore Chocolate on Main for Italian coffee and the best Espresso Dark Truffles I'VE personally ever had. The propriator explained that the freshness makes the difference...wow! This calls for some serious Christmas shopping NOW. They will soon have a website where you can order these goodies, too, I'm told. You may also want to consider your table's desire to be elegant and drop in at The Sophisticated  Swine for silver, antiques and collectables ( The Sophisticated Swine). Next door is Patina Collections (for the home) with amazing can't-leave-without-it everythings. Or Veritables, home decor...fantastic furniture. Or Ming's Asian Gallery. Or Villa for "fine kitchen and bath cabinets." And you will certainly spend time at the windows of several fine jewelry stores...ok, you get the idea! Let me know how you like it...
 Labels: Bellevue, Bellevue Downtown, Old Main, restaurants, Shopping
 Sometimes Queen Anne can be an all day event, sometimes it's enough just to go over to Silver Platters in jeans and a hoodie and stop by what's arguably the city's best fast food Sushi place, Sushi Land. Silver Platters is a great place for all kinds of shopping now that the holidays are approaching, as you are bound to find something for literally everyone on your list. This is not the downtown glitzy rush, it's more an understated, laid back, Seattle cool kind of a twilight visit. Silver Platters is a music and movie store with four locations in Seattle. The one in Queen Anne is where the old Tower Records used  to be. It's a great store with so much atmosphere they should charge admission, but instead you find great stuff at reasonable prices, and that includes used DVDs and CDs, and they still do videos. Even more fun,  take a few of your cast-offs (in good condition) and get part of what you'll be spending in credit for the old DVDs and CDs that you no longer want on your shelves. They have great selections in every category you can think of, friendly staff and a great deal of knowledge if you have questions or are looking for something. They can also fill you in on various aspects of the Seattle music scene!  We found some cool t-shirts, a documentary about living with wolves, a classic Marilyn Monroe movie, a modern spy film I've been wanting to see, two kids' movies (dragons and transformers, what else) and a kung fu moive...something for everyone! Checking out we got into a fun conversation with the woman at the register which ranged all across the board and included ways of saving bags, whether they still take and sell used videos (they do) and my friend's son's electric guitar. It felt a little strange to walk out without at least inviting her over for dinner some time, but that's how Seattle is, laid back, friendly, eclectic, and people are just plain interesting and pleasant. We walked down Roy Street there in lower Queen Anne where there are at least four Asian  restaurants to choose from all in a row, Thai (Pahn Thai in an old Craftsman), Upscale Pho and Curry (Pho Viet Anh), a Vegetarian  Chinese (Bamboo Garden), and another interesting looking Thai one (Thai Heaven) that served cocktails, but finally decided to go back to an old favorite, Sushi Land. It was so early there wasn't even a wait, which there usually is. Three sushi chefs rapidly arranged delicious maki (rolls) and negiri (the sliced fish on rice), as well as edamame (salty boiled soy beans to pop out of the pods), fried wontons, octobus bites and rolls, and other little treats onto plates color  coded as to price. Waitresses brought drinks, miso soup and whatever else we ordered from the  kitchen. Perched on stools at the counter in front of the conveyor belt, we had a ringside seat! The prices are really great too! The green plates are $1, the pink ones are $1.50, the blue ones are $2, and the purple ones (the really special stuff!) are $3. These include bowls of  Udon (fat noodles in broth), small and tasty. Wow, unbeatable. We had 5 green plates, four pink plates, two blue plates, and my son had the Shrimp Tempura Udon on a purple plate. We also had a Sapporo and green tea, all for under $25.  How does it work? All the little plates are loaded onto a conveyor belt and they circle around in front of the delighted diners who are lined up on stools at a counter in front of the stream of passing sushi! There is the added pleasure of watching the sushi chefs prepare the different dishes and anticipating what's coming around next. You just reach out and take whichever ones you decide you can't resist. Great fun, easy on the pocketbook, and something for everyone! Down 5th Avenue the other direction you will find Crow Restaurant and Bistro, well-known and well-beloved Seattle dining spot, but you'll probably need a reservation several days or weeks in advance, although sometimes it's possible to find an impromptu seat at the chef's counter where you can watch them prepare and assemble the artful plates of heavenly fare. You know who you are, take me there for my birthday!  Edy Kizaki Realtor & Team Leader SeattlePowerSearch.com Labels: Queen Anne, restaurants, Shopping
 Shoreline, the city just north of Seattle, is convenient to all the city has to offer. Shoreline starts at about 145 th, and it only takes a few minutes on I-5 to be in the Seattle city center, which explains some of it's popularity and high property values. In fact, it used to be an unincorporated part of Seattle before it became a city in 1995. You can also easily go around the top of Lake Washington and be in Kirkland/Redmond/Bellevue in a half hour. This is great news for some househunting couples when one person will be working in Redmond or Kirkland, and the other will be commuting to a workplace in Seattle. There's an old saying here, "never cross the water for your commute" and this solves that little problem nicely! The city's website says, "Covering 11.74 square miles, Shoreline is Washington's 15 th largest city with more than 53,000 residents. It is primarily residential with more than 70 percent of the households being single-family residences. Over the years, the Shoreline community has developed a reputation for strong neighborhoods, excellent schools and abundant parks." Neighborhoods include Ballenger, Briarcrest, Echo Lake, Highland Terrace, The Highlands (gated), Hillwood, Innis Arden, Meridian Park, North City, Richmond Beach, Richmond Highlands, Ridgecrest and Westminster. Most of these have their own little shopping areas and character. Now for the exciting news! According to Seattle Magazine, Shoreline is the hottest neighborhood in the Seattle area! A couple months ago, Seattle Magazine looked at the top 84 neighborhoods and based their selection on median home price, percentage change in median, average days on the market, crime rate, % of students passing the fourth grade WASL test, park acreage, diversity, and commute time (to Redmond and Seattle). Shoreline Community College is around 150t h, west of Aurora Avenue (Hwy 99). The shopping  around there is great, lots of both little and big stores, and of course restaurants, including a rainbow of ethnic fare. One of the crown jewels is Central Market, and what better place to stop in for a last-minute Thanksgiving run? We needed canned chestnuts (for the stuffing), which none of the other markets I tried had,  organic Italian black kale and smoked ham for our "Black Kale and Ham" dish, and crab for the crab cakes. I also wanted grits to replicate the Kentucky Derby traditional breakfast Friday brunch... Turkey Hash and Fried Grit Cakes, and we needed some extra mushrooms for the Wild Mushroom soup. And of course flowers for the holiday table. Central Market goes far beyond the ordinary with fresh fish, including tanks of live crabs, clams etc., knowledgeable staff in chef's whites sprinkled throughout the store giving last minute advice and dispensing samples, amply staffed checkout to keep the lines short, and even an antique  tractor out front to delight the kids and keep things fun. I also  recommend stopping in and checking out their extensive cooking products and utensil section if you're holiday shopping for those committed gourmet chefs on your list, as they have tons of really special items that make perfect gifts. And there's a large Asian and ethnic food section, we picked up mango mochi ice cream balls for our post- shopping snack!  Edy Kizaki Realtor, Team Leader Labels: Shopping, Shoreline
 The Ravenna neighborhood is a wonderful close-in place to live, near to and north of the University of Washington and all the stir and bustle that it provides. It is also, along Roosevelt Way NE, a wonderful place to shop for trendy clothes, have your hair done, enjoy some ethnic cuisine in a neighborhood eatery, find organic produce (Whole Foods is close), or find a book or two for that weekend getaway. The East West Bookshop is one of my favorite stop ins, not only for the books but because every single time I go there I get to hear the sound of the Gong Bowls. At least, I think that is what they are called. Made of translucent glass, varied in size, uniformly  smooth and streamlined in shape, they glow, they seem to hum even before you tap them with the ... pole, ringer, mallet? The stick thing. They call my name silently, and then when they are tapped and begin to ring, they call my name on various levels of being! Wow, talk about time travel all in a moment, these things are first class mystical musical treasures! (You know who you are, what better Christmas present could there be? I'll wait!) I don't stop at the Gong Bowls forever, of course. The bookshop offers a veritable garden of titles to suit anyone's exploratory mood. Three that caught my eye  last time I was in are Comfortable with Uncertainty by Pema Chodron, Animal Speak by Ted Andrews, and Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston. Now please don't misunderstand, I'm not really recommending these particular books since I have not read them yet, just tossing them out as examples of what you may encounter as you browse the shelves. (But if you do happen to read them, do let me know how they are!!) Books are not all you will find, there's jewelry, bags, candles, and much more! There are also numerous events, readings, seminars and lectures held each month, enabling anyone interested to learn and explore some of the paths and disciplines available on the shelves. Just browse through the current calender of Store Events on their website to see the latest. Pretty soon I'll sign up for something and...why not, blog about it! Stay tuned for further developments.  Labels: classes, Ravenna, Shopping
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From 40th to 80th between Greenlake and I-5 Freeway is one of the most desirable locations in the Seattle area. This area is full of homes with a high walkscore, near Greenlake which is a fantastic place to walk, bike, take your dog. And just around the corner you can find the Mighty O Donut shop, with organic whole grain, mighty delicious donuts full of vitamin "D" (for donut). Flavors like Peanut Butter and Jelly, French Toast, and don't forget the mini donuts and the donut holes! Our friends The Hayburners 
turned us on to them. Thanks Dave and Jennifer! (They are some of our good musical friends--as in good music AND good friends!)
Lynette Hensley
